Thank you Jean for raising the point that self belief and identity are inextricably and permanently linked.
We live in a society which values 'credentials' and its something that most of us buy into in order to progress within the society in which we live. By doing this we allow our institutional/workplace settings to contribute to bolstering or undermining our own self belief.
At some point, most we will question any identity which has been externally rather than internally sought, i.e. through a qualification or membership of a certain group rather than as the result of our own personal experiences. This is because at some point, the ensuing credentials/identity will conflict with our own perception of our identity. Then we will question the policies or practices of an institution/organisation. There is a conflict between what is said to be right/fair/true within the organisation and our own personal honesty. Once an employee or member of a group realises this, there is usually a departure from the organisation or a compromise to be made within it. Can you relate to that?
This is exactly what happened to me that day at Lingfield races. I found out that by taking notice of credible comments I lost a race I should have won. Only by rising above the defeat, self-doubt, loss and failure was I able to access my own talents, resources and self belief to win the next race at 50/1.
Given that human nature finds it so much easier to buy into self-doubt rather than access the 'higher' self belief, I do sometimes wonder how any of us get on in any institution or group whatsoever - then of course we have our identities to do that for us don’t we?!
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